A Novel Blog

Second part of Escape from Eden. Sorry for the delay. Last week was hectic, to say the least.

—-

WE ARE D’VOR

Carson stared at her screen. “Captain take a look at this,” she forwarded to his console.

WE HAVE COME TO LIBERATE YOU FROM EXISTENCE

“Where is this coming from?,” Captain Byron asked.

“Don’t know. It’s on all the system’s data channels,” Carson replied.

Tech specialist Holland, the junior member of the crew screamed, “Massive neutrino build up from Eden’s star and a spike in gamma radiation.  The star is going supernova!”

Lights flickered across the ship. Captain spoke into the ship intercom, “All hands, status report.”

Holland spoke first “High radiation burst. I don’t think we can survive many of those. The star’s outer layer is expanding rapidly.”

The Captain turned to the navigator, “Tszar, get us out of here, now!”

The voices of the crew became a confused chorus as reports flooded in.

“Eden ordered system wide evacuation.”

“We have eight maybe nine minutes before gamma ray saturation exceeds biological limits.”

“Captain, I’m unable to plot an accurate exit vector.”

“Will jump with whatever you have. Do it now!”

“Jump in 3…2…1!”

The Marie Antoinette lurched violently as it exited Shunt Space. Carson shook her head. Jumps always messed with her perception of self.

A voice came though the ship’s intercom, “Captain, ion drive is out of line.”

Byron responded “ETA for repairs?”

“I have fires across the engineering section! Most of the drive is out of order. Without a space dock I don’t think I’ll be able to put her back together.”

“Understood. Do we have any forms of propulsion left?”

“We have jump drive and thrusters, that’s it Captain,” said the voice from engineering.

Captain Byron turned his attention back to his crew, ” Where are we?”

Tszar responded, “Unknown location.”

Holland followed up Tszar’s report, “Sensors array is damaged but still operational. Possible habitable moon around a nearby gas giant. Distance 6 AU.”

“Tszar, plot a course to that moon, stand by for jump,” ordered the Captain.

“Are you insane?,” Carson countered, “That’s a bloody gas giant! Half our systems are down. We can’t–”

“Shut it Carson! Navigator, engage jump drive when ready.”

“Yes Captain. Jump in 3…2..1!”

The Marie Antoinette skimmed the moon’s atmosphere as it came off the jump.  The ship shuddered and creaked as it blasted it way across the moon’s sky.

Lipton voice came through the intercom from engineering “Jump drive is shot Captain!”

Byron ignored him, “Takes us in Tszar.”

“In one piece!” Carson screamed.

The ship crashed landed on alien beach. Carson torso snapped forward. Her head hit her console. Her vision blurred with pain and blood. She staggered from her chair across the bridge. She collapsed near Holland crumpled body. her tears mingled with the blood from her forehead.

Holland was dead.

—-